Changes to employment law announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today are a significant rollback of the previous government’s unfair and unbalanced attacks on workers’ rights, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.
“We’re delighted to see the government taking action so early in the year to rectify the damage done to workers and good employers by the National government,” says Wayne Butson, general secretary of the RMTU.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says Lyttelton Port CEO Peter Davie’s $955,000 pay packet cannot be justified and is symptomatic of a broken wage-setting system in New Zealand.

‘We’re in the middle of negotiations for a port wide collective agreement that covers cargo handlers, marine, maintenance and security staff and this news is slap in the face for those workers,’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

Auckland rail workers will go on strike this Friday after their employer, French owned multi-national Transdev, refused to back down on its proposal to introduce driver-only operation on the city’s passenger trains.

The strike will take place from 2am on Friday 8 December until 1:59am on Saturday 9 December.

Workers employed by Transdev Wellington and Hyundai Rotem on Wellington’s passenger rail network have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action to defend their terms and conditions of employment.

They will stop work for 24 hours starting from 2am on Thursday 16 November.

“We’ve been trying to negotiate with Transdev and Hyundai since May this year and they’ve stalled every single step of the way,” says Wayne Butson, RMTU advocate for the rail workers.

The two multinational companies are demanding the removal of long-standing terms and conditions in the collective agreement.

“They signed up to these conditions a year ago when they got the contract for Wellington’s rail services. Now they’re trying to increase profits by squeezing frontline workers,” says Wayne Butson. “Strike action is the only avenue our members have to get the boss to sit down and be reasonable.

“We all regret the disruption this will cause for Wellington commuters, and we encourage them to ask the regional council, and their Mayors, some hard questions about why big international companies are being allowed to run down good Wellington jobs.”

This will be the first industrial action since 1994 to affect the Wellington rail system for longer than two hours.

“The people who go to work every day making our rail network run won’t give up their employment conditions so the boss can make more money,” says Wayne Butson. “And they will continue to take the action until we get Transdev and Hyundai to understand that multinationals can’t bully Kiwi workers.”

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says the deployment of “Transport Officers” on Auckland’s trains, buses and ferries from tomorrow will not be a boost to safety and Auckland Transport (AT) is misleading the public over their role and potential effectiveness.

"The RMTU represents drivers and on-board crews that staff Auckland passenger trains and we are in no doubt that the deployment of Transport Officers are the first step in removing on-board train crew off those trains,” said RMTU Organiser John Kerr.

“AT are spinning the introduction of Transport Officers as a boost to passenger safety when in fact they are nothing of the sort,’’ he said.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), representing workers who operate Auckland’s commuter trains, is organising a demonstration at Britomart tomorrow in support of keeping permanent on-board Train Managers on passenger trains operated on behalf of Auckland Transport by French owned multi-national Transdev.

The demonstration will begin at 11.30 a.m. and will feature speakers from Auckland City Council, and disability and women’s groups.

Members of the public who support keeping a permanent on-board train manager on Auckland trains are warmly invited to participate.

ENDS

For more information contact:

John Kerr RMTU Organiser 027 246 4941

Union Welcomes Investigation into Graffiti Attack on Train

Media Release Rail & Maritime Transport Union

Wednesday 20th September, 2017

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) welcomes yesterday’s announcement by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TIAC) of the opening of an enquiry into the attack on an Auckland passenger train by a graffiti gang at the weekend.

‘’The RMTU represents drivers and on-board crews that staff Auckland passenger trains and we are very concerned at what happened to this train last weekend,” said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The union representing Auckland train crews is slamming the company running Auckland commuter trains, the French-owned Transdev, for excluding workers from a critical safety audit on the basis its health and safety system is “commercially sensitive.”

“Transdev wrote to us yesterday saying that worker representatives would be stopped from fully participating in an safety audit being done by the regulator, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), as the company’s health and safety management system has so-called commercially sensitive information that only certain staff can have access to,” said Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The union representing the country’s rail workers is condemning KiwiRail’s decision to replace the current electric locomotive fleet on the North Island Main Trunk Line with an overseas-made diesel locomotive fleet.

Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) have today issued notice of strike action at Dunedin Railways, formerly known as Taieri Gorge Railway.

‘Our members have been in pay talks with Dunedin Railways since July and today we have issued notice of the first full 24 hour withdrawal of labour on 25 November,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is today mounting a picket at Dunedin Railway Station in protest at the continuing persecution and intimidation of one of its members for raising a genuine concern over health and safety.

“Dunedin Railways is wholly owned by Dunedin City Council and runs passenger excursions on the mainline as well as up the Taieri Gorge, so you’d think that health and safety would be an absolute priority“ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) puts the rights and wellbeing of working people at risk, says Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) General Secretary Wayne Butson.

“The TPPA will make it harder to protect local jobs and lift wages.”

“Under the TPPA it’s going to become harder and harder for government to govern in the national interest. Clauses the ‘performance requirements’ in the TPPA could prevent the government from favouring local workers over foreign contractors,” says Butson.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is concerned that KiwiRail is so strapped for cash that some lines are in a state of ‘managed decline’ at a time when the road transport lobby is demanding more and bigger trucks on our roads.

‘Today we heard that a number of lines like the Stillwater-Ngakawau, the Napier line and the Northland line are only being maintained to a standard that KiwiRail acknowledges will result in deterioration,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The RMTU is heading to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to determine whether Chinese engineers who are removing asbestos from KiwiRail locomotives are covered under New Zealand employment law, announces RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is voicing its support for demonstrators who are rallying at the Cenotaph steps outside of Parliament calling for KiwiRail to reinvest in an electric fleet says RMTU organiser Todd Valster.

“KiwiRail is currently considering downgrading its electric fleet on the North Island Main Trunk Line to a diesel-powered fleet.”

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is pleased Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has pleaded guilty to charges laid by Worksafe over the death of port worker Brad Fletcher in August 2014.

Mr Fletcher, who was president of the local branch of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, worked as a maintenance fitter. He died on the job after the collapse of a scissor lift

“It’s good that LPC is taking responsibility for what happened,” says RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson, “it means the family and friends of Brad aren’t being dragged through a distressing legal case.”

After a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) investigation found that Chinese engineers working on KiwiRail’s imported locomotives at the Hutt Workshops were probably not covered under New Zealand employment law, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) will now test that finding in the courts says RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

“The RMTU has filed proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority. We are seeking clarity on the status of the Chinese engineers who were contracted to work on KiwiRail’s locomotives. We are also seeking clarification on whether KiwiRail has breached our collective employment agreement with them”.

“After the government refused to seek a clear answer on the status of the Chinese engineers it has been left to the RMTU to clarify the law”.

“Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse said that this legal question is ‘something that one can test in the courts’ and the RMTU is taking him up on that offer. We will not let this injustice remain unresolved”.

The RMTU has filed in the Employment Relations Authority with an Application for Removal to the Employment Court given the seriousness of the issues.

The government must seek a definitive answer on whether Chinese engineers working on KiwiRail’s locomotives are covered under New Zealand employment law says Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) General Secretary Wayne Butson.

“Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse must do more than seek a general answer. Allegations of exploitation demand more than a shrug of the shoulders and tentative legal advice”.

The government must guarantee New Zealanders that Chinese engineers working on KiwiRail’s locomotives are at least receiving the minimum wage says Rail and Maritime Transport Union spokesperson Todd Valster.

New Zealanders will not get a say on the government’s decision to ratify an international agreement which removes the right to protect local jobs, says Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson.

“The government is preparing to assent to the Government Procurement Agreement, a World Trade Organisation Treaty which opens up New Zealand Government contracts to foreign companies and closes the door on local businesses and their workers. However the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee is refusing to take public submissions on the decision” says Mr Butson.

Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) at Lyttelton Port today voted to escalate their industrial action.

Around 200 RMTU members have been operating an overtime ban since 17 December and today they endorsed a series of full withdrawals of labour at the port.

“Our members have voted to escalate their campaign for a just and fair collective agreement and this afternoon, and we have issued notice of the first full 24 hour withdrawal of labour from midday on 11 February,” said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) should negotiate and not litigate, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) after the port failed to injunct workers who walked off the job on grounds of health and safety on Friday night.

“Workers at LPC walked off the job on Friday night after management failed to properly staff safety critical maintenance jobs during an overtime ban being run by our union,” said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Workers of Christchurch Rail and Lyttelton Port have begun an indefinite ban on overtime, according to the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

The ban was announced at a mass meeting at the Port today after negotiations between Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) and the union failed to make headway.

“Our members have already voted for multiple full stoppages at the port, however we see industrial action as a last resort so we’ve limited ourselves to the overtime ban at this stage”, said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is raising serious questions over the safety of the staff on Auckland’s train network after violent incidents on Saturday night stopped services at Britomart Station and frightened staff and passengers at other stations.

The violence followed the annual ‘Christmas in the Park’ event. At around 10pm dozens of brawling youths brought Auckland’s Britomart station to a standstill, throwing rocks and other objects at each other and clambering across turnstiles as security guards and Maori wardens struggled to get control of the situation. Even police were shocked at the intensity of the situation, and passengers were left stunned.

It is highly likely industrial action at Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) will start on 17 December with an indefinite overtime ban after mediated talks between the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and the port company failed to reach agreement today.

‘A couple of weeks ago the RMTU issued notice of an indefinite overtime ban at the port commencing on 17 December, today we met with the port company in a mediation meeting provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and we failed to reach agreement. That means the overtime ban will go ahead unless something happens before next week,’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is questioning a KiwiRail proposal to progressively relocate its Zero Harm personnel from Wellington to Auckland.

“The purpose of the Zero Harm team is to drive KiwiRail’s performance in health and safety. Rail is a potentially dangerous industry and the Zero Harm team plays a vital role,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary, Rail & Maritime Transport Union.

‘Lyttelton port has an appalling health and safety record, with three deaths on the waterfront in the last twelve months, and that fact alone should mean the man running the company isn’t rewarded to this extent,’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has expressed its sympathy and solidarity with the friends and loved ones of a Port worker who has died on the job.

Wayne Butson, General Secretary, Rail & Maritime Transport Union said that the union was shocked to hear of the loss of life yesterday of Maritime Union Branch President Brad Fletcher at the Port of Lyttelton.

Labour leader David Cunliffe’s announcement in Dunedin today that a government led by his party would re-open Hillside Railway workshops was welcomed by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

‘Since the workshops were shut down in late December 2012 as a consequence of the National Government’s failure to buy rolling stock manufactured in New Zealand, a small heavy lift locomotive maintenance operation employing fewer than a dozen workers has been the only activity at the once bustling Hillside plant,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MOBIE) must investigate allegations of exploitation of Chinese workers at KiwiRail’s Hutt Railway Workshops says the union that represents rail workers.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) today added its voice to calls on MOBIE to investigate allegations by Hutt South Labour MP Trevor Mallard that Chinese workers doing warranty repairs on asbestos contaminated locomotives are being paid as little as $3.00 per hour.

‘This is the latest chapter in the sorry tale of procuring rolling stock form overseas,’ said RMTU Acting General Secretary Todd Valster. ‘MOBIE need to move quickly to verify whether there is any substance to these allegations,’ he said .

Rail workers are stunned with KiwiRail’s decision to block worker representatives from several important sessions of an upcoming rail safety audit.

KiwiRail’s rail safety audit gets underway in Auckland tomorrow.

“KiwiRail appear to have learnt little from the Pike River Royal Commission if its approach to inclusive health and safety is anything to go by,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union members working as Logistics Officers at Lyttelton Port have voted in favour of a wage deal reached with management.

As part of the deal, the Eleven Logistics Officers, who plan and run the operation of the loading and unloading of ships, stopped the limited industrial action that they had been taking since Friday 2 May, and withdrew notice of a two day strike over the weekend of 17-18 May.

RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr said ‘the wage deal struck yesterday in a mediated negotiation delivers a 5.78% wage increase by next January, this comes in two stages – 2.85% backdated to January this year and another 2.85% from 19 January 2014,’

‘That means the members will be $50 a week better off straight away, with a bit of back pay as well, and by early next year their weekly wage will be $100 higher , ’ he said.

The Rail and Maritime Union (RMTU) says Lyttleton Port Company (LPC) is trying to intimidate port and rail workers ahead of tomorrow’s mediation to try and settle the continuing industrial dispute at the port.

Eleven of LPC’s Logistics Officers, who plan and run the operation of the loading and unloading of ships, have been taking limited industrial action since last Friday and are saying they will stop work for two days from 17 May.

‘This afternoon we received a threatening letter from the Port’s lawyers saying they had heard we were considering pickets if tomorrow’s mediation is unsuccessful and if we mounted pickets that “interfere with the company’s employment agreement and operations” -whatever that might mean- then they will apply to the courts for an injunction and also sue us for damages,’ said John Kerr, RMTU South Island Organiser.

A meeting of the Canterbury Rail Branch of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) unanimously voted yesterday to support striking Lyttelton Port workers using ‘any means necessary’.

Strike action commences at 2300 tonight when Logistics Officers (LOs) who work for Lyttelton Port Company walk off the job until 0700. Thereafter the action will be repeated every night and during the day the LOs will observe all breaks. The action will result in delays and backlogs at the port. This morning the RMTU has issued a further strike notice that there will be a total withdrawal of labour around the clock during the weekend of 17-18 May.

‘Our rail members have said they will back the port workers,’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr, ‘they have a proud tradition of not crossing picket lines and they are not about to break that now.’

Lyttelton Port staff who work as Logistics Officers voted unanimously yesterday to extend strike action, due to commence on Friday, into a series of multiple rolling stoppages over coming weeks says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union

‘From Friday they will commence industrial action that will result in delays and backlogs building up at the port, by taking all their breaks and not working between 2300 and 0700. That action will be continuous, ’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

The failure of mediation today between the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) managment means that industrial action is imminent Lyttelton port.

'Our members who work as Logistics Officers at LPC have been negotiating for a pay increase since before Christmas, and today their patience ran out. From Friday they will commence industrial action that will result in delays and backlogs buildinmg up at the port,' said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr

Assualts on rail operating staff and Maori Wardens over the weekend have prompted calls for much better safety measures on Auckland's rail network.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says the assualts on Maori Wardens and ticket collectors are the latest in a string of violence directed at personnel operating Auckland's trains, and follows serious assaults in January.

"Further assulats on the Auckland rail network are hugely frustrating for rail workers. It leaves them questioning what is being done to protect them," RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The first of KiwiRail's DL locomotives returned to service today, with more to be introduced over the coming weeks.

The reintroduction follows confirmation by WorkSafe New Zealand that the robust set of operating and managment procedures developed by KiwiRail and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, took all practicable steps to managing the work-realted hazards.

Today’s announcement that KiwiRail will suspend its Christchurch-Picton passenger service, the Coastal Pacific, over the winter months is unnecessary and short sighted, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

Workers were told of the decision at a meeting underway a short time ago.

‘KiwiRail are also proposing to make three train attendant positions redundant, something that we’ll be questioning given the strong performance of the TranzScenic arm of the business this summer,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is expressing its sorrow at the loss of international union leader Bob Crow, who died in London yesterday.

Bob was General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), and was an executive board member of the global body for transport workers, the International Transport Workers Federation.

New Zealand Rail & Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said that Bob was a staunch and effective advocate for transport workers in his country and globally, and his loss will be widely felt across the international transport workers community.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is renewing its call for better regulations on the use of asbestos.

The union met with KiwiRail yesterday on the investigations into asbestos in the network of DL locomotives.

“These locomotives shouldn’t have been built with asbestos in them. That was clear in the service contract. But it doesn’t surprise us that there were problems, we have had quality concerns with Chinese manufactured rail gear including both the DL locomotives and the flat top wagons,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary, Rail & Maritime Transport Union.

A union representing workers at the Port of Lyttleton say it’s positive that the company is moving fast to fix safety concerns following the serious injury to a forklift driver, but a better commitment to health and safety should have seen it avoided in the first place.

Port of Lyttelton was issued 5 WorkSafe New Zealand improvement notices in January relating to its City Depot near Woolston.

It follows a serious injury to a forklift driver at the Depot. The Port also suffered the deaths of a watersider in December and of a contractor in November at the Port.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said that the company has moved fast to effect the changes required by the improvement notices.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is expressing concern for the safety of staff on Auckland’s train network following serious assaults over the weekend.

Two Transdev Auckland train inspectors were assaulted on Saturday afternoon at the Ranui and Swanson stations. In one incident a worker was surrounded by 8 people and kicked and punched and was left with a fracture to the eye socket.

It follows another assault on 29 January where a Transdev and a KiwiRail staff member were each punched in Avondale.

“These are shameful acts and those responsible must be held to account,” said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson

Former workers from Hillside workshops in Dunedin gathered today to mark the one year anniversary of the closure of their past workplace.

“We shouldn’t be here today marking the anniversary of Hillside’s closure. Hillside played an important role in our rail industry, and there was ample reason for it to stay open,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

New Zealand rail workers are rallying in support of their Korean counterparts, who are protesting against their government’s unpopular new rail restructuring and privatisation programme.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson is travelling to Korea today to form part of an international observer monitoring panel of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), and a protest takes place today outside the Korean Embassy in Wellington.

The Rail & Maritime Transport Union said today it would look forward to meeting KiwiRail’s new CEO as soon as his feet are under the desk, with health and safety and strengthening rail’s role as a key part of New Zealand’s transport infrastructure being top priorities for workers.

KiwiRail’s Board announced this afternoon that Peter Reidy, currently with Downer EDI Group in Australia, has been appointed Chief Executive and will start on 10 February 2014, replacing Jim Quinn.

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that KiwiRail workers were looking for stability after significant upheaval in recent years.

Rail and port workers have joined other workers in opposition to proposed employment law changes.

Large union rallies got underway in Wellington today, to be followed next week by Christchurch and Auckland.

Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, said that rail and port workers were particularly concerned by the proposals around multi employer collective agreements (MECAs).

The union for rail workers says that greater use of grade separation such as over bridges or underpasses are needed to properly protect pedestrians from rail accidents.

This morning KiwiRail released its findings on an accident at the Morningside pedestrian level crossing in Auckland, in which a woman using a wheelchair was seriously injured after she was hit by a train.

“Most importantly we want to express our ongoing sympathy for the woman who suffered such a horrific incident, and commend the two others who ran to her assistance on that morning,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

Rail and port workers say an ability for employers to opt out of multi employer collective agreements sends a message that a race to the bottom on wages is acceptable.

“The rail MECA employment agreement is the largest in the rail industry and covers over 3,000 workers at NZ Railways Corporation, Ontrack Infrastructure and KiwiRail,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

Today’s announcement that KiwiRail will suspend its Christchurch-Picton passenger service, the TranzCoastal, over the winter months is both shortsighted and misguided, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

‘Since the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2012 KiwiRail’s Christchurch based passenger services have suffered a decline in customer numbers, but this summer has seen the reversal of that trend, and it does not make sense to stop running this train over the winter,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Government procurement policy needs to be much more than just giving firms a “fair shake of the stick” as Steve Joyce put it this morning, the union for rail workers said.

This morning Steven Joyce commented on proposed changes to government procurement policy, including requirements that New Zealand firms are consulted before tender documents are prepared, and government taking a ‘whole of life’ analysis of procurement.

Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, said it was galling to hear Steven Joyce talk about whole of life cost analysis, after he so flatly rejected exactly that approach in the 2010 BERL report on the Auckland train electrification project.

KiwiRail workers across the country will stop work for two minutes at 11am this Friday to mark the passing of 130 years of engineering work at Hillside Workshops.

Last month KiwiRail announced Hillside’s foundry had been sold to Bradken Engineering with the retention of 18 jobs, and KiwiRail will keep 7 workers to run its heavy lift maintenance operation, but the rest of Hillside will close on Friday, with 90 job losses.

Wayne Butson, RMTU General Secretary said Hillside had made a huge contribution to the New Zealand rail industry and the Dunedin economy over the past 130 years.

“Hillside has a very proud history, and rail workers across the country wanted a way to mark the significance of its closure,” he said.

A mass meeting of members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) a short time ago called on Lyttelton Port Company CEO Peter Davie to share his $600,000 bonus amongst port workers.

'Today’s joint meeting of the union’s Lyttelton Port Branch and Canterbury Rail Branch voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling on Davie to divide the money amongst the workers at the port,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson, who was in attendance.

A meeting of Asia Pacific rail unions has condemned the government’s failure to keep rail manufacturing jobs in New Zealand.

At a meeting of the International Centre for Labour Solidarity in Wellington over the weekend, delegates were updated on the situation at Hillside rail workshops in Dunedin, and expressed deep concern at the failure of the New Zealand government to support the local rail industry.

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that the unions, representing rail workers from Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand, called for stronger procurement rules that took into account whole-of-life costs, and recognised the wider economic benefits of buying local.

Final Decision on Hillside Jobs a Huge blow for Dunedin and New Zealand Manufacturing

Media Release: Rail & Maritime Transport Union

Monday 3rd December, 2012

KiwiRail today confirmed that 90 jobs at Hillside Railway Workshops will be slashed by the end of January, something the Rail and Maritime Transport Union says is a direct result of government policy.

Hillside workers been in limbo since April when the state owned rail operator announced it was seeking a buyer for the 130 year old workshops.

The foundry has been sold to Australian company Bradkin, meaning 18 jobs will stay, but no buyer could be found for the other manufacturing facilities. KiwiRail will keep half a dozen or so workers to run its heavy lift maintenance operation but the rest of Hillside will close.

‘The consultation period with KiwiRail closed today and it’s no surprise to hear that their proposal to lay off 90 workers hasn’t substantially changed,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Today’s announcement that KiwiRail has sold off part of Dunedin’s Hillside Railway workshops will be cold comfort to nearly ninety workers who face redundancy says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

‘KiwiRail was been trying to sell Hillside since April because ever since last year when the company decided to buy rolling stock overseas the viability of the workshops was thrown into question,’ said RMTU Acting General Secretary Todd Valster.

‘The fact the foundry will remain open under the new owner is of some solace, and KiwiRail’s decision to retain eight jobs to do heavy lift maintenance on the site makes sense, but the fact is that the closure of the manufacturing facility is a body blow,’ he said.

Workers at Dunedin’s Hillside engineering workshops are becoming increasingly anxious about the fate of their worksite, the rail union said today.

Earlier this month KiwiRail told the Otago Daily Times that delays in the proposed sale of Hillside had not affected work at Hillside.

“While it is the case that the delays have not affected the rail projects on the books at Hillside, it is most certainly affecting the workforce,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail & Maritime Transport Union.

A reduction in proposed redundancies at KiwiRail is welcome, but the significant jobs cuts that remain represent a failure of government policy on rail, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

KiwiRail will today begin a series of meetings with staff on a restructure to its Infrastructure and Engineering division.

In July it suggested job cuts as high as 220, with more next year, but this number has come down to 158, RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Prime Port in Timaru today confirmed that more than 50 jobs on the waterfront will be slashed by the end of September; something the Rail and Maritime Transport Union says is a direct result of government inaction.

Port workers in Timaru have been left hanging since early July when shipping lines Maersk and Hamburg Sud announced they were to cease calling into Timaru from the end of this month.

‘This do nothing government is sitting on its hands while hundreds of jobs are being destroyed around New Zealand. In recent weeks we’ve had KiwiRail saying it’ll lay off almost 200 track workers, Hillside Workshops put on the sale block, Solid Energy axing jobs in Huntley and at Spring Creek, Comalco cutting jobs at Bluff, Norske Skog cutting production in the Bay of Plenty and now these redundancies in Timaru,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Financial independence for KiwiRail should not come off the back of large staffing cuts and putting safety standards at risk, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

KiwiRail today released its annual report. It is in its third year of a ten year ‘Turnaround Plan’ established under the National government which expects it to be self-sustainable by 2020.

“The loss of 181 skilled rail workers is a significant blow for the network, and the government should explain to the public why it has put KiwiRail in this position,” Wayne Butson, RMTU General Secretary said.

A major road funding decision being announced today shows the government has one set of rules for road, but entirely different expectations for rail, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

The Transport Minister is expected to announce a multimillion dollar funding package later today for strengthening bridges for heavy vehicles.

“No one would realistically expect that road users meet the full cost of the national roading network. It is understood there is a wider social benefit from people and goods being transported in this mode,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Buston said.

The KiwiRail turnaround plan is intellectually bankrupt and a tragic case of history repeating itself, the rail workers’ union said today.

KiwiRail have today formally released their Infrastructure and Engineering business plan 2013-2015, after earlier trying to prevent its release.

“The jobs of 181 skilled track workers are at risk, in the name of nothing more than an accounting exercise to save $200 million and meet head count targets,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

More new wellington trains welcomed but safety concerns remain over staff cuts

Media Release: Rail & Maritime Transport Union

Thursday 23rd August, 2012

New Matangi trains for the Wellington network is great news for commuters but concerns remain over whether the Wellington track and infrastructure will remain for purpose into the future if proposed staff cuts go ahead, the rail workers union said today.

Greater Wellington Regional Council and NZTA have today announced that Rotem Hyundai will construct up to 35 more Matangi trains to replace 43 Ganz Mavag trains. This option has been chosen over refurbishment, and medium term replacement of the remaining Ganz Mavag trains with predicted long term savings and benefits.

“A full complement of the same modern train will work well for Wellington, long term, but at the same time we have KiwiRail proposing, in the very short term, to cut the numbers of Wellington track workers by over 50% and more of the same next year,” said Wayne Butson, Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary.

‘Yesterday we were told by a local manager that KiwiRail may in the future “get outside help” to do work that is required to keep the network up to standard, at the same time as they’re proposing to make our members redundant, “ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

Prime Port in Timaru today announced a proposal to axe more than 50 jobs on the waterfront by the end of September, something the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says is a direct result of the lack of a national ports strategy.

‘This government isn’t interested in an integrated and planned approach to getting our export goods to market and New Zealand workers and businesses are paying the price. Since Maersk and Hamburg Sud announced they were pulling out the Timaru container trade our members have been left wondering about the extent of job losses on the waterfront, today they found out. For us, it’s cold comfort to say to Government ‘we told you so’,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Concerns are growing among rail staff about the impact of KiwiRail’s proposed staffing cuts, following a slip in the Buller Gorge last week.

KiwiRail is proposing to cut 170 to 220 jobs from its Engineering and Infrastructure division to contribute to spending cuts across the SOE of $200 million.

Locomotive engineers and other operating staff have deep concerns about the impact any cuts could have on their and the public’s health and safety, Rail & Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Job losses on the Timaru waterfront as shipping lines Maersk and Hamburg Sud pull out of the container business in the South Island port are the inevitable result of New Zealand’s lack of a national port strategy, and the continued exemption of shipping lines to coverage by the Commerce Act says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

It would be a big mistake to shed staff at a time when considerable work remains to be done to restore New Zealanders’ rail track and infrastructure asset, the union for rail workers says.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is participating in a joint series of meetings with KiwiRail management, for staff to hear KiwiRail proposals for 170 to 220 redundancies to contribute to spending cuts of $200 million.

Wayne Butson, RMTU General Secretary, said that KiwiRail workers had listened politely to the KiwiRail management presentation, but were overwhelmingly against the proposals.

No rail or port member of the Rail & Maritime Transport Union will be crossing any picket lines during the Ports of Auckland strike, RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said today.

RMTU members at the rail and port branches at Auckland and Tauranga ports were briefed late last week on developments at Ports of Auckland. Christchurch RMTU members also will be briefed in early March.

“Our members stand united with the Maritime Union of NZ,” Wayne Butson said.

The union for rail workers says the difficulties KiwiRail is experiencing with its wagons highlights the problem with taking a very short-sighted view of procurement.

It was reported this morning that almost one in ten of KiwiRail’s 500 new container flat top wagons are out of the fleet undergoing repairs and maintenance.

In December 2010 KiwiRail awarded production of the wagons to China CNR Corporation, rather than have them built at its own workshops in Dunedin and Lower Hutt.

“KiwiRail will inevitably have whole-of-life cost blowouts if it continues to take a short term procurement approach solely focused on the cheapest products available,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Publically owned companies like Ports of Auckland should be protecting jobs, not casualising them, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

The RMTU, a member of the International Transport Workers Federation, is backing Auckland port workers in their campaign for secure jobs.

“Figures out this week showed there are still 150,000 people unemployed. Publically owned companies like Ports of Auckland should be in the business of protecting jobs and livelihoods, not attempting to destroy them,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Retaining skilled rail workforce needs to be a priority for Transport
Minister

Media Release: Rail & Maritime Transport Union

Wednesday 14 December, 2011

An important issue for the new Transport Minister will be how to retain skilled rail workers in New Zealand, their union said today.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union represents more than 4,500 workers in rail and ports, and looks forward to meeting with Gerry Brownlee in the near future.

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that as oil prices increased over time, rail would become even more essential to the national transport supply chain, and the retention of a skilled workforce was critical to that.

Hillside Workers Down Tools, Express ‘No Confidence’ in Their Bosses and Call on CEO Jim Quinn to ‘Step In’

Media Release: Rail & Maritime Transport Union

Wednesday 16 November, 2011

Angry Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) members downed tools this morning for a stop work meeting that has passed a motion of no confidence in Hillside site manager Andy Bisset and KiwiRail Workshops Manager Clive Cooper-Smith.

The meeting comes four months after 44 jobs were slashed at the South Dunedin Railway Workshops.

‘The 110 workers that survived the job cull are being offered at least 10 hours overtime per week, we estimate that about 30% of the labour on the projects that are being worked on is being outsourced and there are around a dozen outside contractors actually working alongside our members in the factory,’ said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

Rail workers would be concerned if KiwiRail’s move to separate its business in two is a foreshadow of future privatisation, their union said today.

KiwiRail announced on Friday that it is seeking government endorsement to separate into two businesses, one owning the rail corridor land and the other owning the rolling stock, properties and other assets.

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that this structure sets up the company for privatisation.

“KiwiRail CEO Jim Quinn has said it is essentially a paper transaction and won't change how they operate. If that is the case, then we question the point of the move,” Wayne Butson said.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is backing a petition to save Northland's rail network.

The petition, signed by over 10,000 people, will be presented at Parliament next month.

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that mothballing of provincial rail lines was short sighted.

“We support the efforts of the Save Our Rail coalition in Northland,” he said. “They know that to have a world class transport infrastructure means a commitment to a quality rail network as a key part of the transport supply chain.”

Wage Increase for Port Workers Reflects Their Commitment to the Community

Media release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union

Friday 16th September 2011.

The two main waterfront unions have voted to ratify a collective employment agreement at Lyttelton Port that delivers a wage increase of just over 10% by September 2013. The increase is delivered in four stages over the next two years.

“Lyttelton Port has kept going through three major earthquakes in the last year, the latest on 13 June. Our members have played a crucial role in keeping the Port operational and ensuring the flow of goods that keeps a large part of the South Island economy going,” said Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says Parliament cannot ignore the concerns of 14,000 people who want to keep rail manufacturing jobs in New Zealand.

The union has written to Transport and Industrial Relations Committee, which met yesterday, asking to give evidence before it in relation to the petition signed by 14,000 people calling on the government to commit to building rolling stock in New Zealand workshops.

Meanwhile, earlier yesterday it was revealed that KiwiRail’s supplier in China had under-delivered on a major Australian order, forcing Downer EDI to spend significant amounts of time fixing problems with the trains.

Lower Hutt rail workers whose jobs are at risk say the government needs to listen to the 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for trains to be made at home.

The workers’ petition was presented to Dunedin South MP Clare Curran at Parliament a short time ago by workers from Hillside and Hutt rail Workshops. Clare Curran was flanked at Parliament by Green Party Transport Spokesperson Gareth Hughes

“Up to 30 positions at Lower Hutt’s workshop are now at risk. This follows the redundancies of 44 Dunedin workers last month, both a result of KiwiRail purchasing rail rolling stock and electric units overseas” said Wayne Butson.

The rail workers’ union says a government procurement policy that supports jobs is urgently needed, and welcomed Labour’s moves in this direction.

“KiwiRail’s decision to not bid for either the $500 million contract for Auckland’s new trains, or for the 300 flat top wagons, was resoundingly rejected by workers, business leaders, the city council and others as taking a very short-sighted view of procurement,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

The RMTU met with KiwiRail management today to discuss proposed 40 job losses at Hillside Railway workshops in South Dunedin. Whilst the talks were generally constructive, the RMTU is clear that we have to maintain the pressure on the Government to save these jobs and the future of the workshops.

‘We’ve called a rally in Dunedin on Saturday 9 July to send a message to the Minister that his Government, as the shareholder of KiwiRail, has a responsibility to these workers and to Dunedin’, said RMTU Organiser John Kerr.

Steven Joyce must take the blame for another 41 Kiwis being put out of work by this Government’s policies, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

The Government gave KiwiRail $500 million dollars to build 38 new carriages for Auckland's electrified rail network. KiwiRail, with ministerial approval, tendered the contract overseas despite a strong economic case for building the carriages in New Zealand prepared by Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL).

“This contract should have gone to the workshops in Hillside in Dunedin and Woburn in the Hutt Valley,” said Mrs Turei.

The forty one jobs lost at KiwiRail’s Dunedin Hillside workshops today illustrate the real-life effects of government procurement policy, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson David Parker and Labour MP for Dunedin South Clare Curran.

“Transport Minister Steven Joyce claimed jobs were not at risk. Today’s layoffs provide the harsh proof of his misjudgement,” David Parker said.

The Hillside workshop is the repository of significant engineering expertise for New Zealand, and one of the largest employers in Dunedin.

Proposed KiwiRail job losses in Dunedin could have been avoided if the government and KiwiRail had made sure major rail manufacturing projects were carried out by New Zealand rail workers, their union said.

KiwiRail will today announce to workers a proposal to cut 41 jobs at its Hillside workshop in South Dunedin. Workers have until 1 July to comment on the proposal.

“The Transport Minister needs to front up and take responsibility for these proposed job losses. Inaction from Steven Joyce and KiwiRail has lead to this situation,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

The use of KiwiRail as a pin-up company for improved safety outcomes obscures the fact that worker participation was the key to turning around the rail industry’s safety record, the rail workers’ union said today.

ACC Minister Nick Smith today sighted KiwiRail as an example of how better safety outcomes can occur at workplaces where employers manage their own accident claims and rehabilitation.

But Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said that this significantly overlooked the critical turning point for health and safety in the rail industry.

Declining manufacturing in the Otago region should be a wakeup call to the government to
support the local rail manufacturing and associated engineering industries, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

Union members in the rail and maritime transport industries have a new leader, following the election of Tauranga port worker Aubrey Wilkinson to the post of National President of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

Rail workers are today calling for a firm commitment from KiwiRail that it will rigorously enforce local content provisions it placed in tender documents for the construction of Auckland’s new trains.

Late yesterday KiwiRail announced the two shortlisted firms for the $500 million job to build 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 locomotives for the Auckland rail network.

Last May, Chambers of Commerce, local government and unions commissioned a report setting out the economic benefits of building the trains in the Dunedin and Lower Hutt workshops. BERL’s report estimated a local build would have added between 770 to 1270 additional jobs, $232 to $250 million to GDP and an increase in crown revenue by a net $65 million to $70 million.

Rail manufacturing workers say KiwiRail procurement decisions are too important to the local economy for the Transport Minister and Prime Minister to wash their hands of them.

An announcement from KiwiRail’s on the successful bidder for the $500 million purchase of 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 locomotives for the Auckland rail network is very close, it was noted in Parliament’s Question Time yesterday.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said that several KiwiRail purchasing decisions had gone against the local workforce, and it was time for government to require stronger local content provisions from KiwiRail’s procurement programme.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL 8PMThe Rail and Maritime Transport Union has condemned the decision to suspend the TranzCoastal passenger service.
RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson says the decision to mothball the Christchurch–Picton passenger service until 15 August 2011 was short sighted and bad business.

Rail workers say KiwiRail should stop paying for coach services between Christchurch and Picton, and resume the TranzCoastal passenger train on that line.

KiwiRail suspended South Island passenger services following the February Earthquake, but so far only the TransAlpine to Greymouth has resumed. Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said it was time for the passenger line to return.

“We understand it is costing the company over $20,000 for alternative bus transport from Christchurch to Picton.”

An Auckland railway worker says that KiwiRail should focus more on up-skilling local workers rather than recruiting overseas for their engineering jobs.

Bernie Henare, chairperson of the Auckland Rail Branch of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, said KiwiRail was too focused on overseas recruitment for upcoming locomotive engineering jobs in Auckland.

“Why is KiwiRail going overseas to recruit workers when we have plenty of willing Kiwi workers here to choose from,” he said.

KiwiRail must honour the local content provisions it put in tender documents for the construction of Auckland’s new trains, rail workers say.

Tenders close this week for the $500 million job to build 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 locomotives for the Auckland rail network. KiwiRail’s May 2010 tender document encouraged firms to ally themselves with New Zealand subcontractors or suppliers and “include as much New Zealand content and resources in the design, construction, delivery, testing, maintenance and support of the EMUs as is appropriate.”

“It is vital that KiwiRail honours this local involvement pledge as it considers the tenders,” said Wayne Butson, General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

Extensions to the law that makes it easier for employers to sack workers will put the health and safety of more workers at risk, a transport union is warning.

“Workers in dangerous industries like rail need to have the confidence that they can raise health and safety matters without fear of repercussion,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says stronger local procurement requirements are needed to stop more manufacturing work going overseas, and the union is supporting Clare Curran’s Bill to help achieve this.

Rail workers say strong local content provisions in tender documents for Auckland’s new trains reflects a dedicated ‘buy local’ campaign from unions, local authorities and chambers of commerce in Dunedin and Wellington.

A report by economic consultants shows there is a strong business and economic case for building rolling stock at Hillside workshops in Dunedin, says Phil Goff. Why, then, won't the Government consider it?

Jump in Otago unemployment demonstrates need to back Hillside workshops

Media Release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union

Thursday May 6, 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says today’s big spike in unemployment in the Otago region, bucking the trend nationally, demonstrates the need to support rail industry jobs like those at Hillside workshop in Dunedin.

A new report out today by economics consultancy BERL proves there is a strong economic case to build the trains needed for Auckland rail electrification at home, and the union for rail workers is today launching a campaign to encourage government to make sure this happens.

KiwiRail has $500 million to purchase 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 locomotives for the Auckland rail network.

Strong case for KiwiRail to build rolling stock for Auckland urban rail development

Media release on behalf of The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), the Dunedin City Council and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions - Monday 3 May 2010

If KiwiRail builds the electric units and locomotives required for Auckland's urban rail development in its workshops, New Zealand would benefit nationally from additional jobs, economic output, tax take, and improved trade balance according to a study by economic consultancy BERL released today.

BERL’s analysis shows that the benefits compared to production overseas include:

Between 770 and 1,270 additional full-time equivalent jobs over the construction period (depending on its length).

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is backing calls for an investigation into truck drivers’ pay, and says that road safety will always be compromised when low pay and contracting arrangements force drivers to break the law to make a living.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is using an open day at Hutt Rail workshops this Sunday to urge KiwiRail to back the New Zealand workforce and ‘buy kiwi made’ in its upcoming locomotive and wagon procurement.

KiwiRail is in the market for new locomotives and wagons, and rail workers in New Zealand want the company to commit to building new locomotives and wagons here, rather than upgrading older stock from overseas, RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

Details of the Open Day:

What: Hutt Workshops Open Day, to highlight the work they currently do and what they are capable of doing to build New Zealand locomotives and wagons.

Where: Hutt Workshops, Woburn, entrance via the Bell Road gate.

When: Sunday 28 February 2010, from 11am until 4pm. NB: Alternative date if poor weather is 7th March 2010.

Ends.

For further information: RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson on (04) 473-6693 or (027) 496-2461

A dedicated commitment to training up the New Zealand rail engineering workforce is the only realistic way of combating the lure of higher wages in Australia that is threatening the industry, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) said today.

“Australian wages for locomotive engineers are almost double and a recent recruitment drive is now beginning to hit the industry hard here in New Zealand,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

“KiwiRail is experiencing locomotive engineer shortages, and the best long-term fix to this is a dedicated training programme to up-skill New Zealand rail workers in related trades, many of whom would welcome the chance to train as a locomotive engineer.”

“High unemployment in New Zealand also means that a crown entity like KiwiRail should be looking at home for solutions to job shortages, rather than recruiting locomotive engineers from overseas.”

“Overseas recruitment remains a band aid solution, and we will continue to advocate for a ongoing training programme in New Zealand for locomotive engineers,” Wayne Butson said.

Ends.

For further comment: RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson on (04) 473-6693 or (027) 496-2461

National’s ACC cuts will rip off workers

Media Release for IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 12 February 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says latest moves to cut back on ACC cover for injured workers amount to the stripping back of a public asset ahead of privatisation.

“ACC works for injured Kiwis, and we want to keep it that way,” RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said today, following the release of a select committee report considering ACC legislation changes.

“The National government is attempting to portray ACC as in financial trouble and in need of major reform, despite advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers and others about how efficient and cost effective a scheme ACC is.”

Rail Union Concerned About Mothballing Of Central North Island Rail Line

Media Statement For IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday 5 November 2009

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is concerned KiwiRail is mothballing a damaged North Island rail line. A major derailment closed the Stratford-Okahukura Line in the King Country on Monday night, and KiwiRail management have told staff the line will not be repaired. The line was not being closed, but would remain inactive, as management claimed it was not commercially viable to fix it. RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson says the decision was heavily influenced by Government attitudes towards publicly-owned KiwiRail.

The union representing rail workers is demanding action on Wellington commuter trains where defective power units are making train travel a "cold miserable experience" for both passengers and staff. Click here for full press release

Rail & Maritime Tranport Workers Mourn Workplace Dead

“The Rail & Maritime Transport Union and it’s members will join with other Unions globally to remember and mourn those who have perished in the workplace, on International Workers Memorial Day” say’s the Union’s General Secretary Wayne Butson.... Click here for full press release

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says that action must be taken to prevent a serious rail incident in the Waikato.

The union is responding to an incident on Tuesday 3rd February where children on the Ngarauwahia railway bridge pelted the engineer of a freight train with stones and bottles...Read the full press release (432Kb)

The country's largest transport Union, The Rail and Maritime Transport Union, congratulates Steven Joyce on his appointment as Minister of Transport and hopes the new National Government will continue the funding and other support.... Read the full press release (586Kb)

Pressure is mounting in support of Wellington bus drivers as major New Zealand transport unions affiliated to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) met today in Wellington and made a statement in support of locked out Wellington bus drivers...Read the full press release (24Kb)

Rail workers call for support for ACC changes (June 17 2008)

The Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says all political parties should support proposed changes to the ACC scheme to give better support to workers who suffer mental trauma from workplace incidents. Read the full press release. (26kB)

Government repurchase of rail and ferry operations great news for rail workers and NZ

“Railway workers will be celebrating today’s news of the government’s repurchase of the national rail and ferry operations. This purchase will see the national railway asset and the “iron bridge” across Cook Strait returned to the people of NZ, and the industry will finally have an owner who has the means to be able to back up the promises for much needed investment,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) General Secretary Wayne Butson said today.

“The RMTU campaigned long and hard to get the Labour led Government to buy back the rail tracks but we always knew that in order to have the rail industry deliver what this country needs that they couldn’t stop there. We have all been urging the Government to go the final step to renationalize the network.”

Mr Butson says that from the day that the National government sold off the SOE NZ Rail Limited to an American led consortium, the lot of rail workers and customers has been down hill in direction. The flavour of the day was to extract the cash, replace it with debt and do just enough to keep it going.

“Toll purchased the rail business and they have promised new locomotives since they arrived. Years later, not one order for a new locomotive has been placed. It has been ‘paint them up’ in Aussie colours and send it back out into service,"

“Recent years has seen an exodus of key skilled workers, who were leaving because they didn’t see this industry going anywhere. Today’s announcement will start to stem the drift.”

“The RMTU is keen to be a part of the rejuvenation of the NZ rail industry so that it can deliver the safe sustainable transport option demanded by global warming and escalating fuel prices, and we call upon the Government to make strong early statements of investment in new locomotives and wagons.”

“We know that there will be those who will condemn the Government buy back as a return to the “bad old days”. To them we say look at the record of the SOE from 1987 to 1993, which saw the entity turn into a profitable enterprise.”

ENDS

For further information, contact Wayne Butson, General Secretary, RMTU on 0274-962-461.